Chevrolet SS to die with Aussie Commodore

Chevrolet has ruled out building a successor to the Holden Commodore-based SS. The news effectively means Chevrolet and Holden have both quit the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive sedan business.

At the original launch of the Chevrolet SS then GM North America chief Mark Reuss, who previously led Holden and was instrumental in arranging the export deal, suggested that if the SS proved successful with American customers it could have extended the life of the Commodore. However, that was before the final decision was taken to end local manufacturing.

Speaking at the 2017 Detroit motor show, former Holden boss and now Chevrolet North America president Alan Batey said the Chevy SS would end with the last Australian-made Commodore later in 2017.

Chevrolet has reportedly only sold approximately 8800 examples of the SS in the US since it went on sale late in 2013. The limited interest, despite being used as the brand's flagship NASCAR name, as well as the availability of the similar Camaro and Corvette coupes, means Chevrolet sees no reason to continue with the concept of a performance sedan.

"The SS is obviously the vehicle we use in NASCAR, coming off a great season with Jimmie Johnson winning the championship," Batey explained. "So using the old adage of win on Sunday, buy on Monday we decided that in small numbers we'd introduce the SS, because we could frankly, at a very low cost.

"I would say the vehicle has been really well received. It's small volumes, but it has been really well received. Obviously it is very unlikely that there is anything to follow because you know what's going on in Australia. So it was an optimistic play from our perspective, but it has played out really well. It's been a nice addition to the range."